Complete this form for immediate access to our Class Pricing & Timetable and ongoing access to all other website documents. No further forms required.
The pelvis contains many vital organs including the bladder, bowel and uterus; and fulfils many important functions such as defecation, bladder storage and emptying, childbirth and sexual intercourse. When these functions are disrupted, it has a significant impact on our daily lives. The physiotherapists at Subiaco Women’s Health are experienced in the assessment and management of bladder and bowel dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain and pain with sexual intercourse and are here to help you get back in control of your body.
We understand that seeking treatment for pelvic health issues can be overwhelming, to find out more about Subiaco Women’s Health, how we work and what to expect from your consultation, please see 'Our Approach'. The list below is not exhaustive, please do not hesitate to contact us about any other pelvic health concerns.
Incontinence is the accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder (urinary incontinence), or bowel motion (faeces) or wind (flatus or flatulence) from the bowel (faecal or bowel incontinence).
Different types of incontinence include:
There is compelling evidence that physiotherapy is effective and should be first-line treatment for incontinence. Treatment for bladder and bowel issues usually involves more than just pelvic floor muscle training. Other management strategies include:
Your bladder, bowel and uterus are all organs of your pelvis. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when one or more of these organs bulges against, or sags down into the vagina, creating a bulge.
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the supportive ligaments of the pelvis and pelvic floor muscles become stretched or too weak to hold the organs in the correct place. This stretching/weakening can occur with:
There is strong evidence for physiotherapy management of prolapse. Simple lifestyle changes can significantly improve the symptoms of prolapse and can prevent it from getting worse. Management may include:
Persistent pelvic pain can present as painful periods (dysmenorrhoea), pain with sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), vaginismus, coccyx pain (coccydynia), vulval pain (vulvodynia), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), endometriosis, bladder pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, pudendal neuralgia and anal pain.
Up to one in five women between the age of 18-50 experience persistent pelvic pain.
‘Overactivity’ refers to pelvic floor muscles that are tense and do not relax or may contract when they should relax for example when urinating, defecating or during sexual intercourse.
75% of women who suffer from persistent pelvic pain have pelvic floor muscle tension which is likely contributing to their symptoms.
To assist with your pain management, you may learn how to ‘down train’ your pelvic floor muscles. Your physiotherapist will first teach you about your pelvic floor muscles and how to relax them. There are many ways in which your physiotherapist can teach you how to do this. Some examples are:
Persistent pelvic pain is often associated with bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction. As part of your management, we help you to address these issues.
Psychosocial factors (emotional, behavioural, cognitive responses) or predisposing factors (genetics, general health, past experiences) can contribute to the persistence of pain. Your physiotherapist may help you to address some of these factors in conjunction with other health professionals such as your GP and clinical psychologist.
At Subiaco Women’s Health we understand that everyone’s pain experience is different and requires an individualised approach. We want to empower you by helping you understand your pain and provide you with a toolkit so that you can manage your pain with confidence. Your physiotherapist will therefore take the time to get to know you as person, your pain experience and work with you to achieve your goals.
Mansi is a Continence and Pelvic Health physiotherapist, who has completed her Masters in Clinical Physiotherapy majoring in Continence and Pelvic Health at Curtin University. She has 7 years of experience in physiotherapy, having worked at SportsMed Subiaco (now Subiaco Women’s Health) for the last 4 years.
She provides both outpatient services and inpatient maternity services. Outpatient services include private physiotherapy consultations, clinical pilates, antenatal pilates classes and antenatal pool classes. Mansi is experienced in working with women during pregnancy and postnatally and is passionate about helping women return to exercise safely post birth and achieve their goals. She treats pregnancy-related musculoskeletal conditions (sacroiliac joint pain, low back/sciatic pain, pubic symphysis dysfunction, and coccyx pain), rectus abdominis diastasis/abdominal separation, breastfeeding issues (cracked nipples, blocked ducts, and mastitis). Mansi also specialises in the management of bladder and bowel dysfunction, pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction, and pelvic organ prolapse in adults at all life stages.
Mansi’s treatment approach is evidence-based and holistic, with a focus on empowering patients with knowledge so they can take charge of their own symptoms.
Whilst Mansi is not at work, she enjoys camping and 4WD adventures, cooking and reading.
Anna is an APA Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist. She has 7 years of clinical experience in physiotherapy and has completed her Masters in Clinical Physiotherapy at Curtin University, specialising in Continence and Women’s Health. She is passionate about providing a holistic, patient-centred, evidence-based approach with every client. She enjoys supporting women throughout their perinatal journey. She provides inpatient maternity care, outpatient appointments and antenatal and postnatal pool classes.
Anna is experienced in assessing and managing a variety of physical conditions, including: pregnancy-related back and pelvic girdle pain (including sacroiliac and sciatic pain, pubic symphysis dysfunction, tailbone pain), rectus abdominus diastasis, breastfeeding issues (such as cracked nipples, blocked ducts and mastitis), prolapse, lower urinary tract symptoms, anorectal symptoms (including faecal incontinence and constipation) and pelvic pain (including dyspareunia and persistent pelvic pain conditions). She is also experienced in treating men with lower urinary tract symptoms, particularly after treatment for prostate cancer.
Outside of work Anna enjoys spending time with friends and family, attending Pilates and spin classes and walking her dog, Molly.
Your initial assessment involves taking a comprehensive history to outline all factors contributing to your problem. Depending on your condition, our physiotherapist may recommend an internal vaginal or rectal examination for optimal assessment.
Download PDF BrochureIf you would like more information, please call today on (08) 9382 9600 and one of our physiotherapists will be happy to help you.